Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providing penalties
Sponsored by Rep. David Sieck (R)
Topics:Transportation
Same legislation: SF 38
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 20, 2026
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill requires a locomotive or railroad train operated by a class I rail carrier or class II rail carrier, when operating on a railroad track in connection with the movement of passengers or freight, to be operated by a crew consisting of at least two qualified railroad employees. The federal surface transportation board (STB) is an independent federal agency that is charged with the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation including primarily freight rail. The STB has defined three classes of railway carriers, designated as class I, class II, and class III, respectively, according to annual revenue criteria.
Read the full explanation
The STB threshold for a class I carrier includes a carrier earning revenue greater than $1,053,709,560. A class II carrier is a carrier earning revenue between $47,299,851 and $1,053,709,560. The bill provides that a railroad company found guilty of violating this requirement is subject to a penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 for a first offense, not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for a second offense, and not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000 for a third or subsequent offense. For purposes of determining whether a conviction is a first, second, or subsequent offense, the bill provides that only offenses committed within the three-year period prior to the most recent offense shall be considered.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Amendments adopted later aren’t reflected. Full bill text
House subcommittee
Named January 20, 2026. On January 28, 2026 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§327F.33
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
3 for · 9 against · 2 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title; check the text to be sure it’s the same idea.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 243 Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providi…90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 492 · same titleCleared committee
- SF 492 Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providi…90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · nearly identicalCleared committee
Matched by the wording of each bill’s explanation, or an identical title. Companion bills and renumbered versions of this bill aren’t listed; they’re the same bill.